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4-Car Pileup Blocks San Francisco's Doyle Drive

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Five people were taken to hospitals with minor injuries after a crash on San Francisco's Doyle Drive Tuesday afternoon that snarled traffic for more than an hour.

The crash was reported about 12:30 p.m. near the off-ramp to 19th Avenue.

A Toyota Rav4 traveling south onDoyle Drivecrossed into northbound traffic for unknown reasons and sideswiped a northbound Mercedes Benz, California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Rardin said.

The collision caused the Mercedes to veer into southbound traffic and crash into a Subaru, Rardin said.

Meanwhile, the Rav4 rolled onto its side in the northbound lanes and was hit by a Chevrolet Aveo, he said.

The CHP initially reported that the crash caused only minor injuries, but Rardin said he has since clarified that the driver of the RAV4 suffered pelvic and rib fractures and a punctured lung.

Rardin said everyone involved was wearing a seat belt.

"It's proof positive that seat belts save lives," he said.

The entire roadway was shut down for about 20 minutes after the crash, and for a while only one northbound lane was open.

Lanes were cleared at 1:50 p.m. and traffic began flowing normally again.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services may have contributed to this report.)

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